Section 3. Naming of NAVAIDs, Aeronautical Facilities, and Fixes

a. All fixes
located at a common point must have the same name/code regardless of type,
altitude, or route structure.

b. If one of the
collocated fixes is a NAVAID, the other fixes must be assigned the same name and
three-letter identifier.

3-3-2. RESPONSIBILITY

a. Service area
office are responsible for assigning and changing names of NAVAID and
aeronautical facilities, and must follow the instructions contained herein and
in FAAO JO 7350.8, Location Identifiers, Chapter 1.

b. AIM is
responsible for issuing five-letter names for radio fixes, waypoints, marker
beacons, and compass locators. Five-letter names must be issued by AIM to the
Terminal Procedures and Charting Group, Major Military Commands (MAJCOM) and Air
Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) for future assignments.

c. AIM in
conjunction with the respective service area office, must ensure that no
duplication in location name exists.

3-3-3. NAMING OF NAVAIDs

a. The NAVAID name
selected should represent a city, town, or prominent geographic landmark that is
depicted on a sectional aeronautical chart at or near the site. If one is
neither available nor suitable, a local memorial name may be used. A common,
easily understood word should be selected for the NAVAID name.

b. The name must
not sound similar to an existing NAVAID/fix location name within the originating
ARTCC's area, the adjacent ARTCC's area, or within a 300 NM radius from the
NAVAID involved.

c. Unduly long
names should not be used.

d. A navigational
aid with the same name as the associated airport should be located on that
airport. However, in existing situations, a NAVAID off the airport with the same
name as the airport may retain the airport name provided there is no other
NAVAID with the same name. If retention of the airport name at an off-airport
NAVAID could lead to a potentially confusing situation, the name should be
changed. Only one NAVAID located on the airport may be assigned the airport
name.

NOTE-
For the purpose of this paragraph only, a compass locator must be considered as
a separate NAVAID.

e. Instrument
Landing Systems (ILS).

1. Inner/middle
fan markers (without collocated nondirectional radio beacons (NDBs) or compass
locators) and localizer equipment are not normally assigned names. Localizers
are identified with the associated airport name and applicable runway number in
official writings.

2. All outer
markers must be assigned names/codes. If the outer marker is to be situated at
the same geographic location as a fix, it must adopt the fix names/code.

3. All outer
compass locators (LOM) and middle compass locators (LMM) must be assigned
names/codes. If co-located with a fix, they must also adopt the fix name/code.

f. Names/codes
assigned must be the “chart names" that will appear on aeronautical charts, in
airspace dockets, and other official publications and records.

a. To decide
whether a fix needs to be named, see Order 8260.19, Flight Procedures and
Airspace.

b. Names assigned
for waypoints, intersections, Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordination, and
Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) fixes not co-located with a navigational aid
must consist of a single five-letter pronounceable name. These five letters must
serve as the name, identifier, and computer code.

c. Regional/service area office requests for specific five-letter names for
radio fixes and waypoints should be avoided, but may be granted by AIM if
feasible.

d. Five-letter
names that are assigned by the Mission Support, Terminal Procedures and Charting
Group and major commands will be coordinated with the associated ARTCC to
preclude similar sounding fix names.

e. AIM must not
duplicate any radio fix, waypoint, marker beacons or compass locators names.

f. A fix or
waypoint name change is required if the fix/waypoint is moved 1 nautical mile
(NM) or more unless operational requirements dictate otherwise.